China's AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) is targeting 21 September for the first flight of its ARJ21-700 regional jet aircraft.

State-run media in China are reporting today that the aircraft "is scheduled to take [its] maiden flight on September 21 2008".

The 90-seat aircraft's first flight was originally scheduled for March but was pushed back by around six months, with ACAC saying it was due to delays by suppliers in providing equipment.

The aircraft was developed in China but many key components are being supplied by foreign companies, including the engines which are being supplied by General Electric.

The People's Daily newspaper says five ARJ21-700s have been built to date and three will be used for initial flight testing.

ACAC has said it hopes to complete fight testing and obtain local certification for the aircraft by the third quarter of 2009, when it aims to deliver the first production aircraft to launch customer Shandong Airlines.